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I live in Vancouver BC, and would like to drive up to Whistler, a ski resort about 120 miles away. I have all season tires fitted (225/45/17) and am reluctant to invest in winter tires. my local dealer says I can use BMW-approved chains, but I'm reluctant to shell out $370+tax. can anyone recommend cheaper suitable chains for very occasional use?

Are the conditions beyond what All-Season tires can handle? Are you sure you want to put chains on a Z? BMW-approved would mean any tight-fitting SAE Class S chain. I would use the cable type rather than chain link. Look here:http://www.tirechain.com/P225-45R-17.htm

Are the conditions beyond what All-Season tires can handle? Are you sure you want to put chains on a Z? BMW-approved would mean any tight-fitting SAE Class S chain. I would use the cable type rather than chain link. Look here:http://www.tirechain.com/P225-45R-17.htm

On the Sea-to-Sky highway between Squamish and Whistler, the RCMP will turn back cars without winter tyres or chains when the snow conditions dictate, so all-season tyres will prevent travel in the Whistler area during a snow storm.

Ach! Putting chains on a Z, with risk of slapping the wheel wells.
I wish I lived in Vancouver and could drive in BC summer and winter. Vancouver is on my bucket list, anyway.
I just got a pristine 1997 1.9 from the salt-free southern US, which will spend the winter in the garage while my city salts its roads at every pretense.
My 2008 Forester longs to dance over snow which we never get here any more.
How I would love to drive the Forester in a blizzard on the Sea-to-Sky highway between Squamish and Whistler.

Just keep the sea to sky drive for fair weather! That's what i do with my Zed. She comes out of hibernation in May... can't wait. Depending on the weather conditions, the road from Squamish / Brackendale to Whistler is often completely clear by the way. I often used to drive my Audi up in the winter and had neither snows or chains for that car, never got turned around.

When the better weather comes back, you MUST drive the Duffy Lake Road through Pemberton and to Lillooet then back to Vancouver through the Fraser Canyon and Hope. Fantastic scenery, exhilarating drive. Best 7hrs I ever spent in the seat.